title: Evaluation of a catalase-based urine test for the detection of urinary tract infection in dogs and cats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bacterial infection of the urinary tract is a common disorder in dogs and cats. Although microscopic examination of urine sediment is routinely used to screen for infection, this test can lack sensitivity or require expertise. A reliable in-clinic screening test would be a useful adjunct for the identification of dogs and cats with bacterial urinary tract infection (UTI).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  That a catalase-based urine test (Accutest Uriscreen™) is a more sensitive screening test for UTI in dogs and cats than urine microscopic sediment examination.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and sixty client-owned dogs and cats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Surplus urine from animals presented to a veterinary teaching hospital was used in this prospective observational study. A routine urinalysis, aerobic bacterial culture, and the Uriscreen test were performed on cystocentesis samples. Sensitivity and specificity with 95% confidence intervals and positive and negative likelihood ratios were calculated for Uriscreen and microscopic sediment examination using culture results as the gold standard.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bacterial culture was positive in 27/165 (16.4%) samples. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios for the Uriscreen were 89%, 71%, 3.0, and 0.15, respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios for urine sediment microscopic examination were 78%, 90%, 7.8, and 0.24, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Uriscreen is a more sensitive screening test for UTI in dogs and cats than sediment examination; however, the urine sediment examination was more specific. A negative Uriscreen result helps exclude UTI; however, urine bacterial culture is still necessary to exclude or confirm UTI in all cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Kvitko-White
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Nabity
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Lawhon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000652:urine; D002374:Catalase / Q000652:urine*; D002415:Cats; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000652:urine; D004285:Dogs; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000652:urine / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D002374:Catalase
keywords: Urinary tract infection; Urine catalase; Uriscreen